Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to 13 points over Arsenal with a 2-0 win against Newcastle United. Arne Slot’s side has now netted at least twice in each of their last 18 matches at Anfield.
Before kickoff, the biggest talking point was the absence of Newcastle’s star striker Alexander Isak due to a groin injury, making an already difficult challenge even tougher for Eddie Howe’s men. Meanwhile, Slot served the first of his two-match touchline ban following an incident at Goodison Park, though his absence from the sidelines did little to affect Liverpool’s dominance. The home side struck early, taking the lead in the 11th minute when Dominik Szoboszlai converted a neat pass from Luis Díaz, notching Liverpool’s 100th goal across all competitions this season.
Despite being largely in control, Liverpool had a brief scare when Dan Burn’s long ball sent Callum Wilson through on goal. However, Wilson squandered the opportunity by firing his shot off target. Szoboszlai came close to doubling the lead when his right-footed strike narrowly missed the post after a setup from Diogo Jota. Aside from Wilson’s missed chance, Liverpool’s first half was relatively comfortable, as they maintained control without needing to shift into top gear.
After a slow start to the second half, Liverpool eventually secured their second goal in the 63rd minute. Alexis Mac Allister won possession in midfield, combined beautifully with Mohamed Salah, and finished with a precise right-footed strike past Nick Pope. Salah later delivered a brilliant cross with the outside of his foot towards Díaz, but the Colombian narrowly missed the target at the back post.
In the end, Liverpool wrapped up the victory efficiently without needing to be at their absolute best. Newcastle struggled to pose a significant attacking threat in Isak’s absence, and with this defeat, Howe’s side has now lost four of their last six league games in the fight for European qualification. Meanwhile, Liverpool tightened their grip on the title race, inching closer to what increasingly looks like a foregone conclusion.
